Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-06
THE UNION BRIDGE.
ACTION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
LAST NIGHT.
The Board Of Commissioners Urged to Act-Intsreshng
Discuxuon-COuncil 10 Meet
Tonight
The Chamber of Commerce was called to

evening, to listen to the report Of the spe-
cial committee acting on behalf of the
Chamber in the preliminary negotiations
relating to the proposed Union railroad
bridge. President Logan was in the chair,
and there was an unusually large number
of members present-sbout forty in all
together with a number of others. There
were many of the most prominent manu-
facturers and business men in attendance.
Immediately after the reading of the
minutes the Secretary read an invitation
from New Cumberland, inviting the Cham
Der to be represented at the opening OF the
New Cumberland, Hancock county, rail-
road on Thursday, December sth. a train
will leave the PeViky depot at l o'clock
p. M on that day and return at Up. m.
On motion committee of FIVE was appoint
ed to represent the Chamber, of which
committee Capt. John Mcclure is chair
man, and President Logan, W. F. Peter
son, w. B. Simpson and NJ. Reilly are the
members. Others desiring to go are in
yited.
This matter disposed of DR.. Logan
called Col. A. J. Sweeney to the chair and
addressed the Chamber on the Union bridge
question. As preface to the reading of
the report of the committee, he called the
attention of the Chamber to the fact that
the report, and pretty much all the infor-
nation in the possession of the committee,
had been published in the morning papers,
and added that he presumed the members
had read these reports and digested them
thoroughly. After briefly reviewing the
formation OF the committee and the work
it had accomplished, DR.. Logan read the
report of the committee to the Chamber,
Us already published. He then read for
information the report of the sub commit
tee to the full committee, as well as the
resolutions offered iu the full committee
by Senator Scott, which have likewise
been printed in full.
When he had concluded the reading Of
the documents, Dr. Logan read copy of
the letter of Judge Cochran, which appears
in full in the report Of the action taken by
the Board of Commissioners, printed else
where, prefacin2 it with the explanation
that on Friday last the committee was
rather pushed for time, and in the haste
some Of the points were not made as clear
in the report as might be, although they
were fully understood by the committee.
Addressing the Chamber, DR.. Logan said
he was authorized by the committee to re-
port favorably upon the proposition, and
to recommend that the Chamber advise the
Board of County Commissioners to take
proper steps to make the subscription Of
$500 coo available, under proper restric-
tion.
Mr.. J. d. Ewing asked if the bridge COM
pany was separate from the Wheeling "
Harrisburg Railroad Company, and was
told that there was bat one company, which
was the Wheeling 4 Harrisburg Railroad
Company.
Mr.. Ewing then made inquiries as to
the responsibility of the Wheeling & Har-
risburg Railroad Company, and what
guarantee that company could give to per
form the work.
To this Judge Cochran replied that the
company was organized to build a line
from Wheeling to COnuellsville, and also
had the right TO build bridge over the
Ohio. A good many rights of way
had already been acquired in this county
on the proposed line. In regard to the
guarantee, be said that after a good deal OF
negotiating, he had come here armed with
a proposition from gentleman i'll New
York. abundantly able TO build the con-
templated properties. That gentleman had
declined to build either the Wheeling and
Harrisburg road, or the bridge and the line
to BowerstOwn, but would build both
properties, believing that combined they
would he valuable property, and one in
which he would feel like investing and
asking his friends to invest. Mr.. Clark's
first proposition was to build the road and
bridge upon the condition that the city and
county would invest five hundred thousand
dollars, but subsequently this proposition
was modified to admit Of a subscription OF
three hundred thousand dollars. Mr..
Clark was a practical man, and he believed
that the terminals in this city wonld cost
much more than three hundred thousand
dollars. In answer to "a question, Judge
Cochran said the Ohio county interest
would be limited to the bridge and the
terminals in this city, but if the road
should be extended 10 the State line, this
county's interest would extend that far.
The road to Bowerstown was an entirely
different corporation-an Ohio corporation,
while the bridge, &c, would be West
Virginia corporation. Mr.. Clark stated
that If the river should he rs low as dur
ing the past summer, the bridge could
be completed in a year. Proceed
ing, Judge Cochran said Mr.. Clark was
willing the county should retain in trust
the title TO such property as it might pur-
chase for right of way, etc, until such time
as the terminals might be completed upon
it, when it would be vested in the Rail
road Company. Judge Cochran said great
deal more of lesser Importance, answering
many questions prOpounded to him relating
to legal matters, etc. The most important
of these questions was one by Mr.. Ewing,
who said the county had already voted one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the
Wheeling, Mt. Vernon and COshOCton Rail-
road Company, upon the condition of their
running their cars into the city. and asked
that if they should come to Martins Ferry
and cross upon the bridge, could they claim
the money mentioned. To this Judge
Cochran said they would have no claim
to the one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, and fortified his opinion by quoting
eminent lawyers.
The footbridge feature of the railway
bridge was alluded to, and Judge Cochran
said he was not prepared to talk much
upon the subject However, he said he
could see its advantages, and said he was
satisfied that Mr.. Clark would incorporate
that feature, if it was desirable. He said
that there were great obstacles in the way
of combined wagon and railroad bridge.
1t was a combination alike dangerous TO
the railroad, the wagons and the horses.
A bridge of this kind had been constructed
at Toledo, and had to he boarded up. He
went on to give statistics showing the
undesirsbilty OF plan, showing that
the floor of the wagon road, if above the
railroad track, whould have to be one hun
dred and fifteen feet above low water
mark, an impracticable height.
Col. Sweeney raised the point, that it
uvnuld marianne he better IN have the